Helix - Walkin' the Razor's Edge

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Walkin’ the Razor’s Edge, the fourth studio album from the Canadian heavy metal band Helix. This 1984 release spent sixteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart and peaked at number 69. In Canada, it climbed all the way to number 27.


The band was made up of Brian Vollmer (lead vocals), Brent Doerner (guitar and vocals), Paul Hackman (guitar and vocals), Daryl Gray (bass and vocals) and Greg Hinz (drums). Additional bass was provided on this record by Spider Sinnaeve.

Side one opens with chanting anthem “Rock You”. As the lead single, it went to number 101 on the Canadian Pop chart and number 32 on the Canadian Album Rock chart. Growing up in western New York, I am certain the local radio stations in Buffalo and Rochester played this track. It is very catchy and high energy.

Despite a misspelling in the title, “Young & Wreckless” has a good hook and solid beat.

“Animal House” continues with another down-and-dirty rocker.

“Feel the Fire” was the B-side to the third single. This one has a smoldering swing to it.

The B-side to the second single was “When the Hammer Falls”, a song about your past eventually catching up to you. When it does, you have to be ready to pay the price.

Side two begins with “Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’”, a cover of the 1969 bubblegum pop hit from Crazy Elephant. The guys from Helix take this one to a whole new level.

“My Kind of Rock” is next

“(Make Me Do) Anything You Want” was a 1972 hit for the Canadian rock band A Foot In Coldwater. Helix’s version of the ballad was released as the third single and went to number 44 on the Canadian charts.

The up-tempo “Six Strings, Nine Lives” celebrates the wild life a traveling band.

“You Keep Me Rockin’”, the closing track, was the B-side to the first single.

Walkin’ On the Razor’s Edge is a solid 80’s rock record from north of the border; I certainly enjoyed listening to it over on Spotify If I had been exposed to this one back in the day, I would have enjoyed it then too. Here Helix laid down the kind of rock I was into (hard but not insanely over the top). I may have to look into picking this one up in the future.